Vincent Decides To Walk Away From Bourges

Pierre Vincent is leaving Bourges on a triumphant note having led them to another French league title, the fourth of his tenure at the club

Pierre Vincent has coached his last game at Bourges after deciding he needed a change.

The veteran boss, who is also the coach of the French Women's national team, has yet to reveal what his next club job will be.

He will be missed at Bourges, though, where he has had the club consistently at the top in France and among the leading sides in Europe.

"This was not an easy decision," he said, "but when it's done, it's done.

"I still felt something in the last game, which was the decider for the title.

"That made it even more complicated for me."

Bourges recently defeated Tarbes to clinch the French domestic crown.

Vincent, who has had several offers from both men's and women's teams, says the foundation is in place at Bourges for the team to have success in France and Europe and that has made it a tough decision to go.

"The difficulty is to leave a club where I feel good," he said.

"That is priceless, and maybe the future will show me more. As a bonus, I am leaving a team that will perform. But here, in my career project, there are opportunities. I also have a family and I have choices to make for them. My boys are growing up."

The look at Bourges is going to be very different because Vincent has been there for eight seasons and coached the team in 409 games.

In France's top flight, Vincent's team has been awesome, winning 204 times while suffering just 39 defeats.

In the 33 Coupe de France games he has coached Bourges in, the team has won 30 and in the EuroLeague Women, his record with Bourges is 79-44.

Vincent has steered Bourges to 12 trophies in all, including four French league titles, five Coupe de France triumphs and three wins in Federation tournaments.